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Politics Northwest
Reardon investigation came down to this: He may have misspent $6 on a cab ride
After six months of investigation, the Washington State Patrol's look into Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon's activities came down to a $6 cab ride. That's the only questionable charge investigators found on Reardon's county credit card bill within the statute of limitations on misuse of public funds.
Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks declined this month to press charges against the executive.
According to details from the investigative file released this week, Tami Dutton,who says she had a six-year affair with Reardon, told investigators she was in the taxi with Reardon in Chicago in 2010. But most of that trip was paid for by the Democratic Leadership Council.
Another trip Dutton took with Reardon in 2007 was too long ago to be included in the investigation. The state Public Disclosure Commission is still investigating whether Reardon illegally used county resources for his campaign.
Reardon hasn't spoken about the months-long criminal investigation or his relationship with Dutton. The file includes details of interviews patrol investigators did with more than a dozen of Reardon's staff-members and former staff-members. His assistant, Nancy Pienecke, told detectives Reardon had purchased a hotel "intimacy kit" on his county credit card on a 2007 trip to Washington D.C. -- then she resigned a few weeks later.
Among the more interesting interviews is a report on the detective's hour-long phone conversation with Gary Weikel, a former deputy county executive and Reardon's former acting parks director. Weikel, a 20-year county employee, didn't hold back:
Mr. Weikel described Reardon as a pathological liar. He further said that Reardon does not work with the Snohomish County Council, but instead
alienated the relationship that had been built in the past with the council members. Mr. Weikel further advised that the Boeing Company wants nothing to do with Reardon and that Reardon had destroyed the relationship with the Boeing Company. Weikel described the relationship that Reardon had with the [former Congressman] Jay Inslee office and that it was in poor standings. Weikel stated that there had been a questionable relationship with "Masterbuilders" of Snohomish County and that there had been rumored benefits given to Reardon. ... Mr. Weikel described Reardon as being virtually non-existent at the county office but always has time to do his own things, such as promoting himself for the future, and exercise.
For comparison, here's what Reardon said about Weikel when Weikel retired from county service in 2007:
"Gary has been a priceless asset to this County and its leaders. His knowledge, charisma and compassion are unparalleled, he will truly be missed."



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